Dubai residents have mixed feelings over happiness index

Happiness is a state of mind; yet for several Dubai denizens, it is also a term that is drawing mixed reactions from many sectors in response to a recent survey conducted in the emirate.
 
The happiness average survey, organised by the Community Development Authority (CDA) and held in cooperation with the Dubai Statistic Center, indicated that the emirate is content at a position of 7.9, on a scale of one to 10.
 
When Emirates 24|7 decided to conduct its own little survey, citing the figure, many came forth to defend the standing, with Jessica Patton, a 15-year resident of Dubai, stating: “I am not surprised at the 7.9 rating. Dubai as a city offers five-star living for many of its residents. Of course, people will be happy.
 
“Tell me which city has its average resident living in a glass tower, driving luxury cars, dining at the top hotels and enjoying a night out at some of the hottest clubs?”
 
Emirati national Mohammed Salaam said: “The Government of Dubai takes very good care of its citizens, both financially and socially.
 
“We are taken care of from birth, given the best of education and medical care through our lives; our families nurtured when we marry and the cycle repeats when we have children of our own.
 
“It isn’t surprising that Emiratis score 8.3 on this happiness average scale.”
 
However, when quizzed, several Asian expats claimed confusion and disbelief at the 7.8 rating for the community in the emirate.
 
Said K Madhavan, a 10-year resident of Dubai: “How are Asian expatriates scoring so high when we have a suicide rate that has claimed 33 lives of Indians alone in the country this year?
 
“Newspapers are reporting of suicides amongst expats on an average of one per week. We daily read and hear stories of labourers being abused, not being paid their wages or rotting away in some camp.
 
“If a right study needs to be done, then the population should be further divided into working class communities to get a number that isn’t skewed.”
 
Pakistani taxi driver, Shakir K said: “I haven’t been back home to Peshawar in five years; my children are growing up and I am not there to enjoy special occasions. I wish I could say I am happy, but I can’t even remember the last time I laughed with my heart.”
 
The survey has also indicated that 93 per cent of Dubai’s community felt secure and protected; among Emiratis families this figure was at 96 per cent and expatriate families reaching 89 per cent.
 
The Social Study Results 2011 included 19,924 individuals, which was further categorised in 3,995 families, 1,992 UAE families, 1,701 expatriate families, 302 grouped families, and 500 individuals from labour communities.
 
The study aims to further strengthen community service standards in Dubai.

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